Spring man again charged with trying to have ex killed

Robert Letourneau was in the Harris County Jail on kidnapping and aggravated robbery charges when he allegedly solicited inmates there to kill a complainant in that case, authorities said.

Robert Letourneau was in the Harris County Jail on kidnapping and aggravated robbery charges when he allegedly solicited inmates there to kill a complainant in that case, authorities said.

Photo: Harris County Precinct 4

Photo: Harris County Precinct 4

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Robert Letourneau was in the Harris County Jail on kidnapping and aggravated robbery charges when he allegedly solicited inmates there to kill a complainant in that case, authorities said.

Robert Letourneau was in the Harris County Jail on kidnapping and aggravated robbery charges when he allegedly solicited inmates there to kill a complainant in that case, authorities said.

Photo: Harris County Precinct 4

Spring man again charged with trying to have ex killed

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A Spring man has been accused for the second time of attempting to hire a hitman to murder his ex-girlfriend after he allegedly approached an undercover officer posing as a contract killer in the Harris County Jail.

Prosecutors filed a second charge of solicitation of capital murder against 59-year-old Robert Gordon Letourneau on Thursday, a little more than two months after the initial charge was filed, according to a news release from the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

"Domestic violence is rampant in our community" said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg in a written statement. "Far too often, people are preyed upon by those who are supposed to be closest to them."

Letourneau was first arrested in January, accused of violating a protection order that prohibited communication with his ex-girlfriend. He was released on a $2,000 bond.

In March, Letourneau was arrested again and charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping after he allegedly hid in the backseat of her car and ambushed her. He forced her to withdraw money from multiple ATM's by holding a screwdriver up to her throat, prosecutors have said.

A few weeks later, prosecutors said, an inmate alerted authorities that Letourneau had allegedly tried to hire him as a hitman. Authorities said Letourneau provided inmates methodical and detailed information regarding her whereabouts and routine. He faced his first charge of solicitation of capital murder after this incident.

After a tip from a second inmate two months later, an undercover officer posed as a hitman and twice met with Letourneau. Prosecutors said he offered the officer $5,000 during the first meeting, along with a storage locker filled with auto parts, to kill his ex-girlfriend.

During the second meeting, the officer showed Letourneau a staged photo that made it appear his ex-girlfriend had been killed.

On Friday, Letourneau was informed of the new charge during an appearance in the 184th state District Court, the DA's office said. He could face up to life in prison if convicted. The state filed a motion Friday to revoke Letourneau's phone privileges and place him in "double door" lockdown.